'We lived on auto-pilot after Michelle's death' says dad of arena bomb victim

Company secretary Michelle Kiss, 45, from Whalley,was waiting with a friend in the foyer to collect their daughters who had gone to the concert together.

In a statement read to court ahead of the sentencing of Hashem Abedi, her father Michael Thompson told how the family were "going from day to day on autopilot".

He said their lives changed completely in the wake of the "most horrific" of crimes.

He said: "We believe there is more good in the world than bad but unfortunately it only takes one bad person to devastate and destroy so many lives."

Simon Callander described himself as the "proud father" of Georgina Callander, 18, who lived in Tarleton and also died in the blast.

Speaking of the aftermath of the bomb, he said: "I didn't see much daylight for the next few days.

"The house seemed so crowded with family, friends, police and neighbours.

"I walk the streets at night because I can't go out in the day because everyone wants to come up and talk out of the goodness of their hearts.

"But I don't want to talk."

Abedi, 23, was absent from the Old Bailey's courtroom number two on Wednesday, having effectively withdrawn from the trial part-way through. He was found guilty by a jury in March of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder, and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.

His sentencing is expected to conclude on Thursday.